It’s well known that lack of sleep can affect your mood and overall health. Now, a new study shows that sleep patterns in midlife can have a significant impact on the risk of heart disease later in life, especially in women.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, and sleep deprivation and sleep disorders are health issues of concern to women, especially middle-aged women. This new study, conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, expands on the relationship between the two, showing that not only regularly getting less than seven hours of sleep a night, but also having a sleep disorder can lead to stroke, heart disease, and more. This has been shown to increase the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction.

Scientists analyzed data collected from 2,517 women whose sleep was assessed up to 16 times over 22 years during midlife. Researchers detailed in a press statement that consistently high insomnia symptoms, reported by nearly a quarter of participants, were associated with a 70% increased risk of cardiovascular disease events. Stated.

The study found that women’s risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and coronary artery disease increased by 72% when they averaged less than five hours of sleep each night. earth.com He explained.The research results were published in a magazine Circulation.

Additionally, women with persistent high levels of insomnia associated with sleep deprivation had an even higher risk (75%) of cardiovascular disease, the statement said. Effects on the heart can also be caused by lack of sleep, which increases blood pressure and disrupts the body’s rhythm.

“These findings highlight both the prevalence of sleep deprivation in women’s midlife and the importance of insomnia for women’s cardiovascular health throughout midlife. “This study further suggests potential value in treating insomnia to support the health of patients,” co-author Rebecca Thurston said in a statement.

Previous studies have also shown a strong link between sleep and cardiovascular disease.For example, research published in journals sleep medicine In December 2023, researchers showed that arterial calcification (a condition in which fatty deposits build up inside arteries) is almost twice as common in night owls than in early-born birds.